SNMR 3.20: "You've Got Mail"

Tonight's SNMR feature is "You've Got Mail" (1998, PG, 119 minutes), starring Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Greg Kinnear, Parker Posey, Jean Stapleton, Steve Zahn, Dave Chappelle and Dabney Coleman. The film was directed by Nora Ephron.

Since I reviewed "The Shop around the Corner" last week, I thought it would be neat to follow it up with a review of the modern remake of that classic film. I've seen this movie dozens of times in the nine years since its release. It's one of my favorite romantic comedies because Ryan and Hanks have such a great screen chemistry. This is the third film they've appeared in together.

From the DVD's dust case:

You've Got Mail delivers all the wit, charm and warmth you'd expect from a reunion of the stars (Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan) and director Nora Ephron of Sleepless in Seattle. Greg Kinnear, Parker Posey, Jean Stapleton and more talented co-stars add perfect support to this valentine to modern - to modem - romance in which superstore book chain magnate Hanks and cozy children's bookshop owner Ryan are anonymous e-mail cyber pals who fall head-over-laptops in love, unaware that they are combative business rivals. You've got rare Hollywood magic when You've Got Mail.

From Martin and Porter's DVD & Video Guide 2007, p. 1286:

Meg Ryan rules the screen in this mostly delightful update of Ernst Lubitsch's The Shop Around the Corner. She's the owner-proprietor of a much-beloved children's bookstore tucked away in New York's Upper West Side while Tom Hanks, the apparent villain- owns a monolithic book superstore poised to open it's newest branch across the street. But the slash-and-burn campaign soon to erupt is only half the story: our two heroes have been maintaining a strictly anonymous e-mail correspondence with each other despite other romantic ties and the certain knowledge that they'd hate each other on sight should the truth emerge.

This updated version is easily far superior to the original, reviewed last week in this space. This film respectfully pays homage to it's predecessor in several key scenes. The overall story here though, is better. Any problems the script might have are easily washed away by the skills and chemistry of the lead players. The supporting cast is excellent, especially Dave Chappelle and Dabney Coleman. Parker Posey's character is annoying. The music soundtrack is good and blends in well with the film, complimenting it perfectly. This is an excellent film that should be part of any movie fanatic's collection. I'll give it five out of five stars.